Media in Focus

Was able to finally catch Cheche Lazaro's show on ANC, Media in Focus. It's good to finally have a show about the media, and I can't imagine anyone more qualified to handle the show. Cheche is arguably the most credible broadcast journalist on Philippine TV today and I feel that she alone has experience, the skills in interviewing and analysis that will carry such a show.

I've known Cheche for more than eight years, having worked with her at Probe Productions. I was also one of her students at UP College of Mass Comm, and as early as then she was very into new technology and had a vision of the impact it could have on the media. She gave us readings on convergence (this was ca. 1994!) and it was from her that I first learned of the concept of electronic mail. She told us that an "address" no longer meant your home address, but your email address. As early as that, she wanted her students looking into the changes that technological advances would bring.

It was cool then that she tackled blogging on her show. I only caught the last half of the program but the discussion was very interesting. She had for her guests PDI Editor John Nery, the sassy lawyer Connie Veneracion and political analyst Dr. Ronald Meinardus. They discussed the concept of blogging and why it became such a phenomenon. They also explored the implications it had on the media as an alternative way of gathering opinions and fact.

I was particularly interested in Dr. Meinardus's insights about how blogging can be a very powerful tool, especially for the youth. But he also emphasized on how podcasting will soon "explode". Pinoy culture, he says is a very aural culture. We would rather listen than read. This is true, he says in the way we would listen to the news rather than read. If we do read, the text must be very concise, easily digested. This is why texting is popular. He predicts that when podcasting enters the mobile realm big things will unfold.

I believe blogging will be bigger than it is now. Young people, especially those in the middle class are fast becoming a very informed and quietly powerful lot. They have networks that can form consensus and opinion quickly. Communication is open and flows continuously therefore information is easily available. Their ability to move an agenda within their respective disciplines will be potentially powerful, especially when the kids who spend hours on chat and Friendster are finally the ones running our businesses and our governments. There's still much to be said, read and heard on blogging, and I'm sure a universe of bloggers know it won't be long before they take it to the next level.

ANC is aired every Thursday at 6.30 pm.

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